Devices and systems for providing wirelessly chargeable batteries with improved charge capacities

Abstract

An enclosure for a wirelessly chargeable battery includes a housing having a base and an opposing open end, where a hole is bored through the base. The enclosure includes an end piece attached to the housing proximal the base and having an opposing open end. The enclosure includes a first conductive coating formed on an interior surface of the housing and a first surface of the base, and a second conductive coating formed on an interior surface of the end piece and a second surface of the base, where the housing and the end piece are configured in dimensions that conform to standardized battery dimensions. Battery cell(s) may be positioned inside a cavity in the housing, and circuitry may be positioned inside a cavity of the end piece. The enclosure enables highly efficient use of interior space and volume of the enclosure to maximize battery charge capacity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An enclosure for a wirelessly chargeable battery, the enclosure comprising:
 a housing having a base and an open end opposite the base, the base having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the base faces the open end of the housing, and wherein the base includes a hole bored therethrough; 
 an end piece attached to the housing proximal to the base and having an open end positioned opposite the second surface of the base; and 
 an antenna attached to or formed on at least one of: an interior surface, and an exterior surface, of at least one of: the housing, and the end piece. 
 
     
     
       2. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the housing, the base, and the end piece are formed as a one-piece construction. 
     
     
       3. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is further attached to or formed on an interior surface of the hole bored through the base. 
     
     
       4. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is further attached to or formed on an exterior surface of the open end of the housing opposite the first surface of the base. 
     
     
       5. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is further attached to or formed on an exterior surface of the open end of the end piece opposite the second surface of the base. 
     
     
       6. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is attached to or formed on the interior surface of the end piece, and wherein the antenna is electrically connected to one or more components positioned inside of the housing via at least one elastomeric connection. 
     
     
       7. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna includes at least two electrically isolated antenna portions. 
     
     
       8. The enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of directors positioned on the exterior surface of at least one of: the housing, and the end piece. 
     
     
       9. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing, and the end piece, is constructed of a radio frequency transparent material. 
     
     
       10. A wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a base and an open end opposite the base, the base having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the base faces the open end of the housing, and wherein the base includes a hole bored therethrough; 
 an end piece attached to the housing proximal to the base and having an open end positioned opposite the second surface of the base; 
 an antenna attached to or formed on at least one of: an interior surface, and an exterior surface, of the housing and the end piece; 
 at least one battery cell positioned in a first cavity defined by the housing and the first surface of the base; and 
 circuitry positioned in a second cavity defined by the end piece and the second surface of the base, wherein the circuitry is connected to the at least one battery cell. 
 
     
     
       11. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is connected to the at least battery cell by a wired connection extending from the first cavity through the hole to the second cavity. 
     
     
       12. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first cap attached to an exterior surface of the open end of the housing opposite the first surface of the base; and 
 a second cap attached to an exterior surface of the open end of the end piece opposite the second surface of the base, 
 wherein the first cap encloses the first cavity, and wherein the second cap encloses the second cavity. 
 
     
     
       13. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna includes at least two electrically isolated antenna portions. 
     
     
       14. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna includes a dipole-inspired antenna. 
     
     
       15. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna includes a monopole-inspired antenna. 
     
     
       16. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a radiator including a circularly polarized antenna. 
     
     
       17. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of conductor strips or planes positioned on the exterior surface of at least one of: the housing, and the end piece. 
     
     
       18. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is distributed across a plurality of stacked and connected printed circuit board (PCB) pieces. 
     
     
       19. The wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the PCB pieces is a flexible PCB piece. 
     
     
       20. A method for manufacturing a wirelessly chargeable battery apparatus, the method comprising:
 forming an enclosure including a first interior cavity separated from a second interior cavity by a base; 
 boring a hole through a portion of the base to provide access between the first and second cavities; and 
 integrating an antenna into or onto at least one of: an interior surface, and an exterior surface, of the enclosure. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of integrating an antenna comprises at least one of:
 coating an interior surface of the first cavity with a conductor; and 
 coating an interior surface of the second cavity with the conductor. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of integrating an antenna comprises:
 first coating an interior surface of the first cavity with a conductor; and 
 second coating an interior surface of the second cavity with the conductor, 
 wherein, after the first coating and the second coating steps, the first coating is electrically isolated from the second coating. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 positioning at least one battery cell in the first cavity; 
 positioning circuitry in the second cavity; and 
 connecting the at least one battery cell to the circuitry using a wired connection extending through the hole from the first cavity to the second cavity. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the circuitry includes a printed circuit board (PCB), the method further comprising coupling the antenna and the PCB via one or more elastomeric radio frequency connections.